• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Auto Trends Magazine

Car reviews, industry news, & advice.

REV MATCH

Top Down Fun With the Corvette Stingray Z51

December 9, 2015 by admin 10 Comments

2016 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible w/Z51 Package

Review anything about the Corvette and you’re bound to offend someone for omitting an important point. Such is the strength of this iconic model — nay, brand — that has no lack of followers or at least enthusiasts who immediately become giddy when you offer them a ride.

I’ve had my share of sports cars wind through my press fleet over the years, including the Nissan GT-R, Jaguar F-TYPE, Lexus RC F, BMW M6, Porsche 911 4S, and the Porsche Cayman. Not one of these models stoked the same level of interest as the Corvette from people who know me, but that doesn’t mean the preeminent Chevrolet product is the best of the lot.

What Corvette represents is the most recognized and attainable model of the group. Further, nearly everyone has a story about a friend’s Vette or a movie that they saw or some other life experience involving this sports car. Quite frankly, the Corvette represents the warp and woof of the American performance machine.

Instead of rehashing the usual comments about the Corvette’s look, drive, and feel, we’ll examine some of the more noteworthy attributes of this model.

2016 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible w/Z51 Package

1. Make it a Stingray.

Currently in its seventh generation, this halo Chevrolet model is officially known at the Corvette Stingray, the first time the dual appellation has been used in nearly 40 years. Introduced in 1953, it has remained in production ever since, although no 1983 model was manufactured.

Always available as a coupe, no convertible model was built from about the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s. By the way, the supercharged model is known officially as the Corvette Z06. So, call the entire family “Corvette” and you wouldn’t be wrong.

2016 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible w/Z51 Package

2. Drop the Top.

Beyond its high-end performance capabilities, the Corvette Stingray is an engineering dream come true, even in the little things. Take the convertible top, please! The test model, delivered in torch red paint, was a convertible with a black roof matching the other blackened highlights — that is, on the hood vent, wheels, side vents, around the tail lights, and on the diffuser.

The best part of the roof is that you don’t have to do much of anything except press a switch located to the left of the steering wheel on the lower dashboard. No clamps to deal with and no adjusting the trunk (unless you have something sitting in the trunk). The roof automatically retracts, folds and hides within the trunk, getting the job done in about 20 seconds.

Reverse the switch when you’re ready to close up shop and the trunk lid lifts, the roof emerges, unfolds and secures itself in position. An electronic notice on the dashboard confirms when everything has been securely put in place.

2016 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible w/Z51 Package

3. Shifting Has Never Been Easier.

I cut my driving teeth on manual transmissions and have driven my share of stick-shift models through the intervening years. But there isn’t a smoother and cleaner shifting manual gearbox than what is present in this model. Seven forward speeds — count ‘em! — and you have much to play with. You have to try hard to grind the gears, but even then the clutch seems to compensate and finish the job for you. If you are prone to do as I do on occasion — such as jump from second to fifth gear — the gear number is displayed within the instrument panel, essentially reminding you to make an adjustment.

Personally, I could do with five and am happy with six forward gears, but the seventh gear enables this hot performer to make 29 mpg on the highway — the same strong number put up by the 8-speed automatic. For the record, I averaged 23.9 mpg covering 232 miles of local and highway driving.

2016 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible w/Z51 Package

4. The Z51 Performance Package Nails It.

There is the Corvette Stingray and then there is the Corvette Z06. In the middle of the pack is the Corvette Stingray with its Z51 performance package, what delivers many of the amenities of the supercharged model, but without the blistering performance. The Z51 performance package brings an adaptive control system to manage the dampers, making multiple adjustments per second.

Add in a set of larger wheels, high performance tires, and the available magnetic ride control package and you have a machine that behaves as you see fit. Indeed, the drive mode controller provides five modes — weather, eco, tour, sport and track — to suit your mood with steering, throttle and stability control adjusted accordingly. I stayed in Sport mode for nearly the entire time I had the sports car, enjoying the wheels slipping underneath as I took even the most standard turns.

2016 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible w/Z51 Package

5. Just Bathe Me In Comfort.

Whoever said that your Corvette Stingray has to leave you feeling stiff after a long drive? With most owners being “of a certain age,” having access to key features in a bid to ease the discomfort inherently felt when driving such models is a must. That’s where the 3LT preferred equipment group package ($9,745 option) comes in. 3LT provides seat adjusters with power bolstering and lumbar support. You also get heated and ventilated seats, Napa leather inserts, power heated side mirrors, a premium Bose audio system, and an upgraded theft deterrent system.

Curb view cameras and a color head-up display are also included. Thus, the Corvette Stingray is not simply a machine — it is a technological beast, but without the distracting and cluttered instrument panel and console.

2016 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible w/Z51 Package

6. Connectivity Features are Welcome.

Long-time Corvette fans may not care as much about today’s technologies, nevertheless such amenities are a welcome feature and are now part of the Corvette Stingray experience. Not only does this sports car serve up an 8-inch color display, but it does so with the very usable Chevrolet MyLink telematics system.

Among the features present are: Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay with smartphone compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and a wholly beneficial navigation system.

2016 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible w/Z51 Package

7. Everything Else Really Doesn’t Matter Much.

So, what have I left out? Comparatively minor details such as the body’s form, trunk space, and the delicious quad pipes. But those are matters I’ve covered before and you probably have heard about ad nauseam.

Of course, the convertible supplies you with a proper trunk, while the hardtop delivers what amounts to a hatchback.

2016 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible w/Z51 Package

Corvette Considerations

In the sport car matrix, the Corvette holds its own. Importantly, more than six decades after its release, the legend continues and quite easily this one may be the best of the seven-generation lot.

2016 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible w/Z51 Package
2016 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible w/Z51 Package
2016 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible w/Z51 Package


2016 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible

  • Sticker price from $64,400
  • Price as tested: $79,415
  • Seats 2
  • 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine
  • 455 horsepower @ 6,000 RPM
  • 460 foot-pounds of torque @ 4,600 RPM
  • 4.06 inches bore by 3.62 inches stroke
  • Engine compression ratio: 11.5-to-1
  • Seven-speed manual transmission
  • Wheelbase: 106.7 inches
  • Length: 176.9 inches
  • Width: 73.9 inches
  • Height: 48.6 inches
  • Passenger volume: 52 cubic feet
  • Storage volume: 10 cubic feet
  • Towing capacity: NR
  • EPA: 17 mpg city, 29 mpg highway
  • Premium grade gasoline
  • Fuel tank: 18.5 gallons
  • Curb weight: From 3,362 pounds
  • IIHS safety rating: NR
  • Limited vehicle warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
  • Powertrain warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
  • Corrosion warranty: 6 years/100,000 miles
  • Vehicle assembly: Bowling Green, Kentucky

Filed Under: New Car Reviews Tagged With: 7-SPEED GEARBOX, Chevrolet, convertible, CORVETTE STINGRAY, MANUAL TRANSMISSION, rear-wheel drive, REV MATCH, SPORTS CAR, Z51

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • The Mazda CX-5 Brings a Premium Touch to the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle Segment
  • 4 Car Upholstery Cleaning Tips
  • The 14 Brands of Stellantis
  • Peugeot May Not Return to the U.S. Market After All
  • Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival

Recent Comments

  • Buying Guide: 2020 Kia Sedona — Auto Trends Magazine on Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • Highlights of the 2020 Kia Sedona — Auto Trends Magazine on Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • Minivan Surprise: 2016 Kia Sedona SXL — Auto Trends Magazine on Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • Compact Crossover Extraordinaire: Mazda CX-5 — Auto Trends Magazine on The Mazda CX-5 Brings a Premium Touch to the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle Segment
  • Compact Crossover Extraordinaire: Mazda CX-5 — Auto Trends Magazine on Compact, Luxury SUV: 2019 Volvo XC40

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008

Categories

  • Auto Parts
  • Auto Shows
  • Automotive Career
  • Automotive News
  • Book Reviews
  • Car Tips
  • Classics & Discontinued Models
  • Commentary
  • Commercial Vehicles
  • Concept Vehicles
  • Dealers
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Fleet
  • Fun News
  • Maintenance & Repairs
  • Motorsport
  • New Car Reviews
  • New Models
  • Ownership Experience
  • Product Reviews
  • Special
  • Specifications
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

New!
Check out our Jobs Board!

via GIPHY

Subscribe to Auto Trends

Subscribe in a reader

Social Media

Visit our social media pages:
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest

Where is Matt Currently Published?

The Carolinian (new car reviews)
NAPA Know How Blog
On the Road Again

Pages

  • About
  • Authors List
  • Automotive Brochures
  • Contact
  • Industry Jobs
  • Write
    • Style Guide

Categories

Recent Posts

  • The Mazda CX-5 Brings a Premium Touch to the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle Segment
  • 4 Car Upholstery Cleaning Tips
  • The 14 Brands of Stellantis
  • Peugeot May Not Return to the U.S. Market After All
  • Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • GM Launches BrightDrop, Its Commercial EV Brand
  • The Refreshed and Handsome
    Lexus IS 350 F Sport
  • What We Know About the All-New 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
  • The All-New and Formidable 2021 Nissan Rogue Crossover
  • Fuel-Efficiency and AWD Champion: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
  • Midsize Performance Master: 2021 Hyundai Sonata N-Line
  • Performance Hatchback: The All-New 2021 Mazda Mazda3 Turbo!
  • NACTOY Finalists For 2021 Offer Familiar and Futuristic Choices
  • Super Trooper: Nissan Titan Pickup
  • Behind the Wheel of the Popular 2021 Toyota Corolla Sedan
  • Lucid Motors Completes Arizona Factory
  • A Robust Turbodiesel Comes to the Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • Mid-Engine Masterpiece: The Eighth-Generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
  • Compact Performance:
    2021 Cadillac CT4-V
  • All-Wheel Drive Supplies the Nissan Altima With a Competitive Edge
  • Return of the Toyota Venza!
  • Lexus Brings a Convertible to the Gorgeous LC 500 Line
  • Stellantis Logo Revealed by Peugeot, Fiat Chrysler Ahead of Spring Merger
  • Preview: 2021 Nissan Rogue Crossover
  • How to Fix a Broken Rivian Vehicle
  • Cadillac Gets Most Things Right
    With the XT6 Crossover
  • The High Potency Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Coupe
  • The All-New Chevrolet Trailblazer Forges Urban Paths
  • The Small Infiniti QX50 is Big on Tech and Engineering Features
  • Toyota Brings the TRD Treatment to the Midsize Camry Sedan
  • The Kia K5 Outclasses Most Competitors, Including the Departing Optima
  • Can the Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road Handle Tough Terrain?
  • Subaru WRX Showcases Its Performance Chops
  • Infiniti Overhauls QX80 Trims and Makes This Important Safety Feature Standard
  • Ford F-250 Super Duty and a Trail-Stomping Tremor Package
  • A Cut Above: Mazda’s Mazda3
  • The Highly Efficient Hyundai Ioniq
  • Volkswagen Atlas Revels in its Strengths
  • General Motors Deepens Partnership With Honda, Takes Stake in Nikola
  • Smart Concept: Jeep Grand Wagoneer
  • More Than an Encore: Buick Encore GX
  • Got a Recall? There’s an App for That.
  • Refreshed Nissan Titan Makes Its Case
  • BMW M235i: Not Your Typical Coupe
  • Hot Stuff: Lexus RC F Sport Coupe
  • Will the Electric Vehicle Boom Create New-Found Dependencies for Foreign Minerals?
  • Rumors? We Got Them!
  • About Bollinger Motors, EV Startup
  • Raptor Fighter: Ram 1500 TRX!
  • White Space Wonder: 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport
January 2021
S M T W T F S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« Dec    

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in